The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-26
A THEATER DISASTER.

Nineteen Persons Killed and About Fifty
More Less Seriously Injured.
Special to the indianapolis journal.
PARIS, May 25.-The widely known theater.
the Opera Com;que, was burned to-n night The
fire broke out during the performance. The
theater was crowded. and at the first alarm a
rush was made for the exits. The fire spread
with great rapidity. ana many persons sprang
from the windows to the ground to avoid being
caught by the famer, only to meet death by
contact with the pavement Fourteen of the
persons who threw themselves from the windows
were instantly killed. and forty-three were
picked up more or less injured. some of them IA
tally and many seriously.
The dead bodies of ive persons have been
taken out of the front part of the theatcr. They
were terribly burned, and it is doubtful if they
can be identified Two of them were those of
a woman and little boy. the woman clasping
the child tightly in her arms.
The fire originated in one of the wings. and
was caused by gas jet coming into contact with
some Of the scenery, which was being shifted
into position for the second act of ''Mignon," the
first act being then in progress. The flames
burst forth like a fash of powder. and the
whole interior of the theater was
almost Immediately ablaze. Nine Merea-
lier and NM. Tasquin and Bernard were
on the stage at the time, and so closely were they
pursued by the flames that they were compelled
to run through the stage entrance into the street
in stage costume. as did. also, the other mem
bers OF the company, none of whom was given
time to take away an article of clothing, other
than what they wore. The audience were,
of course. panicstricken, but through the
heroic and systematic efforts of the
0e %A4 ~fa al nf
the spectators they were kept moving
toward the exits without trampling upon each
other All of the occupants of the main portion
of the house were got out without difficulty. but
the flames behind the stage soon severed the gas
connections. leaving the galleries and stairways
in darkness before the upper portion of the house
was cleared. and it is feared that a number of
persons were left in the upper tiers. The roof
fell in within half hour after the fire started.
Madame Seller, one of the actresses, was in
her dressin room when the fire broke out, and,
being unable to make her escape, vas burned to
death. All of the other members of the COM
pany and employees of the theater escaped with
their lives, but several supernumeraries were
injured, ore or two of them very seriously.
The total number of persons known to have
been killed and injured is sixty-seven. The
building was entirely destroyed, and it is yet
impossible to say how many bodies are buried
beneath its rufus.
The police outside were unable to restrain the
crowd who besieged the building inquiring for
friends inside, until q military Gordon was
formed. One man, who wanted to rescue his
brother and sister. raved, tore his hnir and men,
aced with stick people who stopped him from
rushing into the blazing building The scene
outside was one of the widest excitement
Falling embers struck horses in surrounding
streets, causing them to plunge and rear
Flames shot out of every window. forcing the
crowd into the narrow streets where the crush
was terrific.
A fgurante says there were one hundred and
fifty persons the stage when the fire broke
out. She heard glass falling like a hail storm.
but told the other girls not to mind it, but while
she speaking a column Of flame burst
through the wings with a roar. and all rushed
pell-mell from the stage.
Many policemen were injured. It is still un-
known how many persons were unable TO escape
from the building.
Only fortnight ago NJ. Steenackers called
attention In tho Chamber of Deputies, to the
dangerous condition of the Opera Comique, the
oldest theater in Paris. Figaro also called at
tention to the thing after the recent
twelve. hour benefit performance.